The IT ministry took up the matter with US diplomatic level and eventually succeeded to convince the Google administration. DESIGN: ANUSHAY FURQAN
ISLAMABAD: The ban on video-sharing website YouTube is likely to be lifted in the first week of May following talks between the Google administration and the Ministry of Information Technology, sources told The Nation on Monday.
Google had earlier declined Pakistan’s demand of permanently blocking blasphemous content on the website owing to the absence of necessary laws and agreements between Pakistan and the US. According to the sources, negotiations this time were proving to be fruitful.
The IT ministry “took up the matter with US diplomatic level and eventually succeeded to convince the Google administration. Both sides to remove sacrilegious’ content from YouTube on good faith have so far agreed to meet in a video conference next week,” the sources were quoted as saying.
Two proposals are likely to be placed by Pakistani authorities during the video conference, the sources further said.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had banned YouTube in September 2012 after Google turned down Islamabad’s request to remove the blasphemous video ‘Innocence of Muslims’, which sparked violence in the Muslim world including Pakistan.
Correction: An earlier version of the article quoted Indian news agency ANI for the report. However, the report was first carried by Pakistani newspaper The Nation which was quoted by ANI.
COMMENTS (15)
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Its one heck of a twist that they banned YouTube. Don't you think its a coincidence that they directed an anti Islamic film on September, just like the false blame on Muslims for 9/11 attack, September 2011?
@ Sabih Shad: Actually, there has been some attempts in this direction. You can check tune.pk and tubestreaming.com. They are made in Pakistan but they didn't get the desired response. I guess marketing was a problem here.
They should remove the ban 1st of may so pakistani audience can view the uncensored clips of "angel" Pakistani politicians. That's the real truth behind the ban
must be some joke...
This subject has been beat to death and somehow "out of the blue" we now have an article which essentially says that every previous statement by the USA govt and Google has been reversed. This article defies common sense doesn't deserve to be on the front page. . The US govt doesn't have the authority to abridge the constitutional right of free speech - has said so on many occasions. The repeated position of the IT Ministry that the stumbling block to resolving this issue is related to negotiating laws/treaties with the USA is absurd.
My Goodness! Report is by The Nation, which Indian news agency quoted. ET's Web Editor needs Glasses
It's a shame no local company took advantage of this ban to come up with a viable alternative.
@Kaleem: Kallem Sahib, if you wish "this minister be elected forever"then either make him a GENERAL or some kind of AZAM.
Oh man, I'll be having my exams.
Thank God . It must be before election .
Misleading headline. Google has simply agreed to listen to Pakistan. It has not Yet agreed to comply with Pakistan's wishes.
May this minister be elected forever if he resumes youtube :)
At last ministry of information has taken a very good decision , It will help student and general public . Good luck guys. Have fun .
On 12th May to be exact as elections will pass by then.